Juncal Island facts for kids
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Isla Juncal
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Satellite picture of the upper Río de la Plata; Juncal Island is the large island above center
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| Geography | |
| Location | Río de la Plata |
| Coordinates | 33°58′12.0″S 58°22′40.8″W / 33.970000°S 58.378000°W |
| Length | 4.91 km (3.051 mi) |
| Width | 1.95 km (1.212 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Department | Colonia |
Juncal Island is a small island that belongs to Uruguay. It is located where the Uruguay River flows into the Río de la Plata. This spot is just a bit north of the Uruguayan town of Carmelo. A waterway called the Canal de Camacho separates Juncal Island from the mainland of Uruguay.
A smaller island, Juncalito Island, is about one kilometer north. To the west, across the main channel, is Portuguese Island (Isla del Portugues). This island belongs to the Argentine province of Entre Rios.
Contents
Island History
The most important historical event linked to Juncal Island is the Battle of Juncal. This was a major naval battle during the Cisplatine War. It happened on February 8 and 9, 1827.
The battle was fought between the navy of the Brazilian Empire and the navy of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. The United Provinces won a complete victory.
What Juncal Island Looks Like
Island Features
From a geology point of view, Juncal Island is made of river material. This material sits on a very old granite base. The island's coasts are sandy. They have gentle slopes near the channels.
The island is low and flat. It can even be completely covered by water during very high tides. Juncal Island is about 4.91 kilometers long. Its widest point is about 1.95 kilometers across.
Water and Wildlife
The western side of the island gets water from the Guazú River. It also gets water from the Uruguay River coming from the north. The eastern side receives cleaner water from the Camacho River.
In this eastern area, a type of fish called pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) is very common. Because of these fish, Juncal Island is a popular spot for fishing boats.
Plants on the Island
Most of the plants on the island are low-growing bushes, also known as scrubland. However, you can find some trees growing towards the center of the island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Juncal para niños
